Die-cut Gatefold Masterclass
Gatefold cards blanks for fun to create plus they’re a great way of using your die stash, as Ingrid shows us
Gatefold cards are a fun alternative to traditional side-fold and tent-fold cards, and they are easy to create with the help of a scoreboard. You can also use a variety of dies to create unique gatefold openings in your designs.
You can use nesting dies, shaped dies or dies that include co-ordinating stamps. Select your die and create a gatefold card from a sheet of cardstock. Open up the card blank and line up the centre of the die to the edge of the panel. Use low-tack tape to hold the die in place on the left-hand side then die-cut one side of the gatefold.
Fold the card closed again and, with the die in the same place, tape in place on the right-hand side only then die-cut again. This will give the full die-cut shape in the centre of the opening. You can then use the same die to cut a decorative topper for inside the card blank.
The join of the gatefold does not always have to be in the centre of the design – you could also try having the opening closer to one side. This is an easy technique to do and create different shapes on the gatefold. Give it a try tonight!
Hello
1 Prepare the card blank as shown in the guide below. Mask off the top and the bottom of the inside of the card base and secure the front flaps of the card with a removable adhesive, so that they stay shut whilst you stamp with the Mini Hearts Background stamp and Picked Raspberry ink on top.
2 Once the stamped design is dry, add a touch of pink with the same ink around the edges and remove the masking tape.
3 Adhere the assembled die-cuts, the inner circle to the side and the outer frilly circle to the other side so that when closed they interlock.
4 Die-cut the sentiment from black cardstock and add to the full circle to finish.
How to… create a die-cut gatefold card blank
1 Die-cut the Frilly Lace from white cardstock and keep both parts.
2 Die-cut the Frilly Lace from iridescent glitter paper and keep both parts.
3 Die cut the circle frame out of the inner glitter paper part and adhere it onto the white circle.
4 Find and mark the centre on both card bases and cut one side off plus a tiny sliver of one of them.
5 The slightly shorter cut card base needs to be adhered with the longer side inside the other cut card base. This will create your gatefold card base.
6 Place the small inner circle die-cut in the centre of the closed card and mark the top and the bottom of the circle.
7 Place the card flap in the guillotine or your trimmer and slice from the fold to your pencil mark. Do this on all sides.
8 Stamp and ink the front flaps/doors and partially adhere the circle die cut and the outer frilly frame to each door to create the interlocking closure for the card.
Birthday hearts
1 Trim a tiny sliver off one side of the A6 card bases and adhere both together, with the slightly shorter side on the inside so that the card closes without any problems. Find the centre of each closing side and score down the middle.
2 Repeat with the other side. Reinforce the fold and, whilst folded shut, secure a medium-sized heart in the centre, taping it only to one side. Open the card with the heart secured and run it through the machine. Repeat this with the other side.
3 Die-cut the same size of heart from white cardstock and use the same die and a size smaller heart die to die-cut the glitter frame. Adhere the glitter frame onto the white heart die-cut and stamp the sentiment.
4 Close/fold the card and adhere the stamped heart on the inside of the card. Mask off the insides of the card, stamp the Mini Hearts Background onto each flap on the inside, let it dry then add a touch of pink ink to the edges.
1 Cut an A4 piece of white cardstock to 6x8” and score on the long side at 2” and 6”, then reinforce the score lines with a bone folder.
2 Adhere silver glitter paper onto the remaining white cardstock and die-cut four smaller glitter hearts and two medium-sized glitter hearts. Die-cut two more small white hearts and stamp the small birthday sentiment onto one of them.
3 Cut patterned paper to 4x6” and then in half again so that you have 2x6” strips. Adhere these onto the card sides, then pair and adhere the hearts to the front sides, with the largest one in the centre and the smaller on top and bottom so that when you close the hearts interlock.
4 Attach the heart with the sentiment onto the large glitter heart in the centre.
Birthday bow
1 Trim a tiny sliver off one of the sides of the card blanks and adhere them together, with the slightly shorter side being on the inside so that the card closes nicely.
2 Adhere a 5” square of pattered paper to the outer side of the right flap. Partially die-cut the Leaf Mandala out of the other flap.
3 Attach silver glitter paper to cardstock and die-cut the bow out of it. Assemble and adhere the bow with the strip to the centre of the mandala and stamp the sentiment in black in the space above.
Fabulous florals
1 Trim purple patterned paper to fit the card front and fix in place. Trim the vellum on the long side at 41/8” then cut in half.
2 Die-cut the Detailed Blooms from white cardstock twice and adhere to each of the vellum pieces. Carefully fussy-cut around the edge of the die-cuts. Place both decorated vellum pieces onto the card front, fold behind the closed card and secure them on the back.
3 Add double-sided tape on the back for the ribbon and affix, leaving the ends long enough to tie on the front.
4 Adhere an A6 piece of white cardstock on the back to cover up the adhesive and the ribbon. Die-cut the sentiment from black cardstock and secure on the inside of the card.